09/08/2013

First Day Of School Magic For The Workplace

Students go back to school this week which has me
thinking about how I used to prepare for the first day of school and all the
accompanying jitters. There was always
something so magical about the first day of a school year. Anything that happened last year was gone,
and your potential was suddenly limitless.
Who knows – maybe this was the year you would make the team, get asked
to prom, or star in the school play.
Perhaps last year’s math class was a disaster, but on this magical day you
had a chance to erase your mistakes and come in kicking butt and taking
names. Somehow, even though you would be
rejoining many of the same classmates, there was still a chance to make a new
first impression. A killer outfit, a
cool story about your summer, and the unwritten successes of the coming year all
combined to create a situation where anything was possible. Wow, I miss that.

I truly think it’s a shame that we professionals don’t get a
summer break to restart our year“à la etch-a-sketch”. I propse that we can use this fall season to our advantage though, and that it presents a chance for us to pause and fabricate a
little first day of school mojo. So if our “first day of work” is coming up, then we’ve got
some strategizing to do!

The Look. I remember
agonizing pre-school mall trips with my mom trying to break my bad style tendencies
and find the perfect look for the first day of school. Thankfully, I’ve made some improvements since
then, and I’m no longer jumping on stupid fads and unflattering fit. On my “first day of work” I’m going to
perfect my look. I may hit the Target
clearance rack, or I may do some sprucing up on one of my existing
looks – but the key here is taking a little extra time and declare my
confidence. I suggest laying out your
clothes the evening before your designated first day of work – just like you used to do when you
were a teen. Grab an accessory you haven’t
used in a while or try a new jacket/blouse combo. Watch a youtube video on a cool makeup
technique and employ it. Just walk in on that morning like you own the place.
Sometimes looking the part is half the battle.

The Relationships. On the
first day of school you never knew who you might be sitting next to in History
class. The laws of proximity could turn
an acquaintance into a bestie in no time flat.
You may also have entered your
school year determined to make a good impression with the heavyweights of
popularity in your school. There’s no reason you can’t do the same at
work. Make intentional connections
starting this week. There are tons of ways
you can achieve this. Seek out an opinion
on a project from someone you respect.
Eat lunch with coworkers instead of scarfing down food at your
desk. Be brave at a business event and
spark up a conversation with a big wig.
You have been told your whole life that it’s not what you know, but who
you know that counts. This “school year”
at work communicate with others like you believe that’s true.

The Plan. It may have
been different each year, but when you started on your first day of school you
probably had a plan of attack. Maybe
your plan was to get a 4.0, or maybe you wanted to run for student
government. What was great about the
first day of school is that you hadn’t yet experienced the failures and disappointments
that keep you from dreaming and making big goals. Take some time to write out some measurable and achievable goals that you want to tackle at
work. Don’t worry about what happened
last month – these are NEW goals. Commit
to taking baby steps that will get you to your goal. If you take small, actionable steps you’ll be
at your end goal before you know it. A
to-do list is a great way to keep track of these action steps. There’s a good online tool/app called Remember
The Milk that can help you track this process.
There are lots of other online goal setting tools out there as well, and
the good news – many of them are free!

So – as you make your commute this week, look at the school
busses that have joined you on the road and get inspired. You can make real change for the better this
year, and tomorrow is a great day to start.

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First Day Of School Magic For The Workplace

Students go back to school this week which has me
thinking about how I used to prepare for the first day of school and all the
accompanying jitters. There was always
something so magical about the first day of a school year. Anything that happened last year was gone,
and your potential was suddenly limitless.
Who knows – maybe this was the year you would make the team, get asked
to prom, or star in the school play.
Perhaps last year’s math class was a disaster, but on this magical day you
had a chance to erase your mistakes and come in kicking butt and taking
names. Somehow, even though you would be
rejoining many of the same classmates, there was still a chance to make a new
first impression. A killer outfit, a
cool story about your summer, and the unwritten successes of the coming year all
combined to create a situation where anything was possible. Wow, I miss that.

I truly think it’s a shame that we professionals don’t get a
summer break to restart our year“à la etch-a-sketch”. I propse that we can use this fall season to our advantage though, and that it presents a chance for us to pause and fabricate a
little first day of school mojo. So if our “first day of work” is coming up, then we’ve got
some strategizing to do!

The Look. I remember
agonizing pre-school mall trips with my mom trying to break my bad style tendencies
and find the perfect look for the first day of school. Thankfully, I’ve made some improvements since
then, and I’m no longer jumping on stupid fads and unflattering fit. On my “first day of work” I’m going to
perfect my look. I may hit the Target
clearance rack, or I may do some sprucing up on one of my existing
looks – but the key here is taking a little extra time and declare my
confidence. I suggest laying out your
clothes the evening before your designated first day of work – just like you used to do when you
were a teen. Grab an accessory you haven’t
used in a while or try a new jacket/blouse combo. Watch a youtube video on a cool makeup
technique and employ it. Just walk in on that morning like you own the place.
Sometimes looking the part is half the battle.

The Relationships. On the
first day of school you never knew who you might be sitting next to in History
class. The laws of proximity could turn
an acquaintance into a bestie in no time flat.
You may also have entered your
school year determined to make a good impression with the heavyweights of
popularity in your school. There’s no reason you can’t do the same at
work. Make intentional connections
starting this week. There are tons of ways
you can achieve this. Seek out an opinion
on a project from someone you respect.
Eat lunch with coworkers instead of scarfing down food at your
desk. Be brave at a business event and
spark up a conversation with a big wig.
You have been told your whole life that it’s not what you know, but who
you know that counts. This “school year”
at work communicate with others like you believe that’s true.

The Plan. It may have
been different each year, but when you started on your first day of school you
probably had a plan of attack. Maybe
your plan was to get a 4.0, or maybe you wanted to run for student
government. What was great about the
first day of school is that you hadn’t yet experienced the failures and disappointments
that keep you from dreaming and making big goals. Take some time to write out some measurable and achievable goals that you want to tackle at
work. Don’t worry about what happened
last month – these are NEW goals. Commit
to taking baby steps that will get you to your goal. If you take small, actionable steps you’ll be
at your end goal before you know it. A
to-do list is a great way to keep track of these action steps. There’s a good online tool/app called Remember
The Milk that can help you track this process.
There are lots of other online goal setting tools out there as well, and
the good news – many of them are free!

So – as you make your commute this week, look at the school
busses that have joined you on the road and get inspired. You can make real change for the better this
year, and tomorrow is a great day to start.